A GREATER understanding by rural doctors of the health issues facing farmers is required, according to a leading professor in the field. Associate Professor Susan Brumby, the director of the National Centre for Farmer Health, said a high-risk environment, poor access to health services and poor preparation of rural health professionals were ongoing issues for farmers. Associate Professor Brumby was delivering a presentation to Rural Clinical School students in Burnie yesterday . Associate Professor Brumby said health concerns for farmers were unique and wide-ranging, and rural doctors were often ill-prepared to deal with them. "There is not enough of an understanding and they don't walk in a farmer's shoes, they don't have much of an idea where they work or what they are doing," she said. Associate Professor Brumby said the external image of farmers was often different to the reality. "When people think of farmers, many think of strong, white, male and healthy," she said. However, Associate Professor Brumby said there were several other underlying issues, not the least of which was the proximity of and access to health services. "The further away they are from health services, the longer they stay at home," she said of a study of farmers undertaken in Victoria. "Of those who would seek help, many wouldn't know where to go." She said this was both a cost and time factor. Associate Professor Brumby said farmers were generally at greater risk of cardiac disease, injury by accident and mental health and suicide than the broader community.

Farmers' health at risk

A GREATER understanding by rural doctors of the health issues facing farmers is required, according to a leading professor in the field.

Associate Professor Susan Brumby, the director of the National Centre for Farmer Health, said a high-risk environment, poor access to health services and poor preparation of rural health professionals were ongoing issues for farmers.

Associate Professor Brumby was delivering a presentation to Rural Clinical School students in Burnie yesterday .

Associate Professor Brumby said health concerns for farmers were unique and wide-ranging, and rural doctors were often ill-prepared to deal with them.

"There is not enough of an understanding and they don't walk in a farmer's shoes, they don't have much of an idea where they work or what they are doing," she said.

Associate Professor Brumby said the external image of farmers was often different to the reality.

"When people think of farmers, many think of strong, white, male and healthy," she said.

However, Associate Professor Brumby said there were several other underlying issues, not the least of which was the proximity of and access to health services.

"The further away they are from health services, the longer they stay at home," she said of a study of farmers undertaken in Victoria.

"Of those who would seek help, many wouldn't know where to go."

She said this was both a cost and time factor.

Associate Professor Brumby said farmers were generally at greater risk of cardiac disease, injury by accident and mental health and suicide than the broader community.